Users' Perspective on the AI-Based Smartphone PROTEIN App for Personalized Nutrition and Healthy Living: A Modified Technology Acceptance Model (mTAM) Approach.

The ubiquitous nature of smartphone ownership, its broad application and usage, along with its interactive delivery of timely feedback are appealing for health-related behavior change interventions mobile apps. However, users' perspectives about such apps are vital in better bridging the gap between their design intention and effective practical usage. In this vein, a modified technology acceptance model (mTAM) is proposed here, to explain the relationship between users' perspectives when using an AI-based smartphone app for personalized nutrition and healthy living, namely, PROTEIN, and the mTAM constructs toward behavior change in their nutrition and physical activity habits.

Near infrared spectroscopy to evaluate the effect of a hybrid exercise programme on peripheral muscle metabolism in patients with intermittent claudication: an exploratory PROSECO-IC sub study.

Intermittent claudication (IC) is characterized by decreased blood flow and oxygen delivery to the lower-limb muscles, resulting in pain and impaired functional capacity. This study evaluated the effects of a 12-week hybrid walking intervention on muscle oxygenation and functional capacity in 38 patients with IC (Rutherford I-III). Functional capacity was evaluated by means of two different treadmill test protocols and a six-minute walk test (6MWT).

Feasibility of a home-based physiotherapy intervention to promote post-stroke mobility: A randomized controlled pilot study.

Objectives: Home-based physiotherapy interventions to improve post-stroke mobility are successful in high-income countries. These programs require less resources compared to center-based programs. However, feasibility of such an intervention in a low and middle-income setting remains unknown.

Short-term results of serial cardiopulmonary exercise testing in adults with repaired coarctation of the aorta.

Background: Data on the evolution of exercise capacity in adults with repaired coarctation of the aorta (CoA) are scarce. We aimed to investigate the evolution and change of measures of exercise capacity obtained by cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in adults with repaired CoA.

Methods: Patients 16 years of age and older with CoA, who performed at least two maximal CPETs in our institution, were included in the study.

Post-exercise Hypotension Following a Single Bout of High Intensity Interval Exercise vs. a Single Bout of Moderate Intensity Continuous Exercise in Adults With or Without Hypertension: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials.

Post-exercise hypotension (PEH) is an important tool in the daily management of patients with hypertension. Varying the exercise parameters is likely to change the blood pressure (BP) response following a bout of exercise. In recent years, high-intensity interval exercise (HIIE) has gained significant popularity in exercise-based prevention and rehabilitation of clinical populations.

The Use of Near Infrared Spectroscopy to Evaluate the Effect of Exercise on Peripheral Muscle Oxygenation in Patients with Lower Extremity Artery Disease: A Systematic Review.

Objective: Near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) has been suggested as a new diagnostic tool in patients with lower extremity artery disease (LEAD). The aim of this systematic review was to summarise the impact of exercise therapy on lower limb muscle oxygenation, evaluated by NIRS, in patients with LEAD, and to give an overview on NIRS instruments and methodology.

Data Sources: MEDLINE and Embase.

Satisfaction and Acceptability of Telemonitored Home-Based Exercise in Patients With Intermittent Claudication: Pragmatic Observational Pilot Study.

Background: Current guidelines recommend supervised exercise training (SET) as a first-line treatment in patients with intermittent claudication (IC). SET has been shown to be more effective than home-based exercise therapy (HBET). However, the lack of available SET programs hampers broad SET implementation in clinical practice.

Limiting factors of peak and submaximal exercise capacity in LVAD patients.

Aims: Although patients supported with a Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device (CF-LVAD) are hemodynamically stable, their exercise capacity is limited. Hence, the aim of this work was to investigate the underlying factors that lead to peak and submaximal exercise intolerance of CF-LVAD supported patients.

Methods: Seven months after CF-LVAD implantation, eighty three patients performed a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test and a six minute walk test.

A qualitative exploration of cardiovascular disease patients' views and experiences with an eHealth cardiac rehabilitation intervention: The PATHway Project.

The aim of this study is to explore participants' views and experiences of an eHealth phase 3 cardiac rehabilitation (CR) intervention: Physical Activity Towards Health (PATHway). Sixty participants took part in the PATHway intervention. Debriefs were conducted after the six-month intervention.

Feasibility, Acceptability, and Clinical Effectiveness of a Technology-Enabled Cardiac Rehabilitation Platform (Physical Activity Toward Health-I): Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is highly effective as secondary prevention for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Uptake of CR remains suboptimal (30% of eligible patients), and long-term adherence to a physically active lifestyle is even lower. Innovative strategies are needed to counteract this phenomenon.

Home-based exercise with telemonitoring guidance in patients with coronary artery disease: Does it improve long-term physical fitness?

Background: Home-based interventions might facilitate the lifelong uptake of a physically active lifestyle following completion of a supervised phase II exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation. Yet, data on the long-term effectiveness of home-based exercise training on physical activity and exercise capacity are scarce.

Objective: The purpose of the TeleRehabilitation in Coronary Heart disease (TRiCH) study was to compare the long-term effects of a short home-based phase III exercise programme with telemonitoring guidance to a prolonged centre-based phase III programme in coronary artery disease patients.

The Impact of Supervised Exercise Training on Traditional Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Patients With Intermittent Claudication: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Patients with intermittent claudication (IC) are at increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. Whereas extensive evidence supports the beneficial effects of supervised exercise training (SET) on walking capacity, little is known about the effect of SET on the CV risk profile of IC patients. Therefore, the aim was to evaluate the effects of SET on CV risk factors in IC patients by using meta-analysis techniques.

Effectiveness of high intensity interval training supplemented with peripheral and inspiratory resistance training in chronic heart failure: a pilot study.

Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an evidence-based therapy in chronic heart failure (CHF). There is still debate about the optimal training protocol in CHF. The use of high intensity interval training (HIIT) supplemented with peripheral (PRT) and inspiratory resistance training (IRT) might be more beneficial because of the higher impact on the peripheral and inspiratory muscles, with less symptoms of dyspnoea and lower amount of dropouts as a result.

The role of cardiac rehabilitation in vocational reintegration Belgian working group of cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation position paper.

Cardiovascular disease is one of the main causes of morbidity and sick leave in Belgium, imposing a great socio-economic burden on the contemporary healthcare system and society. Cardiac rehabilitation is an evidence-based treatment strategy that not only improves the cardiac patients' health state but also holds promise so as to facilitate vocational reintegration in the society. This position paper was developed and endorsed by the Belgian Working Group of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation.

Accuracy of Apple Watch Measurements for Heart Rate and Energy Expenditure in Patients With Cardiovascular Disease: Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Wrist-worn tracking devices such as the Apple Watch are becoming more integrated in health care. However, validation studies of these consumer devices remain scarce.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess if mobile health technology can be used for monitoring home-based exercise in future cardiac rehabilitation programs.

Serial pulmonary vascular resistance assessment in patients late after ventricular septal defect repair.

Background: The long-term evolution of pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) after ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair is unknown. This study serially evaluated resting and exercise PVR after VSD repair in childhood.

Methods: Patients were enrolled from the outpatient Adult Congenital Heart Disease clinic of the University Hospitals Leuven and compared to age- and gender-matched controls.

Home-Based Rehabilitation With Telemonitoring Guidance for Patients With Coronary Artery Disease (Short-Term Results of the TRiCH Study): Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Cardiac rehabilitation (CR) is an essential part of contemporary coronary heart disease management. However, patients exiting a center-based CR program have difficulty retaining its benefits.

Objective: We aimed to evaluate the added benefit of a home-based CR program with telemonitoring guidance on physical fitness in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) completing a phase II ambulatory CR program and to compare the effectiveness of this program in a prolonged center-based CR intervention by means of a randomized controlled trial.

Computerized decision support for beneficial home-based exercise rehabilitation in patients with cardiovascular disease.

Background: Exercise-based rehabilitation plays a key role in improving the health and quality of life of patients with Cardiovascular Disease (CVD). Home-based computer-assisted rehabilitation programs have the potential to facilitate and support physical activity interventions and improve health outcomes.

Objectives: We present the development and evaluation of a computerized Decision Support System (DSS) for unsupervised exercise rehabilitation at home, aiming to show the feasibility and potential of such systems toward maximizing the benefits of rehabilitation programs.

Electronic Health Physical Activity Behavior Change Intervention to Self-Manage Cardiovascular Disease: Qualitative Exploration of Patient and Health Professional Requirements.

Background: Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of premature death worldwide. International guidelines recommend routine delivery of all phases of cardiac rehabilitation. Uptake of traditional cardiac rehabilitation remains suboptimal, as attendance at formal hospital-based cardiac rehabilitation programs is low, with community-based cardiac rehabilitation rates and individual long-term exercise maintenance even lower.

The development and codesign of the PATHway intervention: a theory-driven eHealth platform for the self-management of cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of premature death worldwide. International guidelines recommend routine delivery of all phases of cardiac rehabilitation (CR). Uptake of traditional CR remains suboptimal, as attendance at formal hospital-based CR programs is low, with community-based CR rates and individual long-term exercise maintenance even lower.

Right ventricular systolic dysfunction at rest is not related to decreased exercise capacity in patients with a systemic right ventricle.

Background: To evaluate the relationship between right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction at rest and reduced exercise capacity in patients with a systemic RV (sRV).

Methods: All patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA) or complete TGA after atrial switch (TGA-Mustard/Senning) followed in our institution between July 2011 and September 2017 who underwent cardiac imaging within a six-month time period of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) were analyzed. We assessed sRV systolic function with TAPSE and fractional area change on echocardiogram and, if possible, with ejection fraction, global longitudinal and circumferential strain on cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging.

A randomized controlled trial comparing home-based isometric handgrip exercise versus endurance training for blood pressure management.

Aerobic endurance exercise (AEX) is an effective treatment in the prevention and management of high blood pressure (BP). Growing evidence suggests potential benefits from isometric handgrip (IHG) exercise, which may promote similar or even larger reductions in BP than AEX. We compared the effects of home-based AEX and home-based IHG on BP.